March 6, 2009 Alpental and Summit Central

It sure was beautiful driving up. As I pulled into the parking lot at 8:20 or so, Armstrong Express was already running. Chair 2 was functional at 8:45 or so when I got up there. The people that got there early managed to get a few runs on Chair 2 prior to the frenzy; by 10:30 there was a 20 minute wait. Anyhow, the snow was great in Edelweiss bowel and on International, especially in the shade. Atypically, they groomed the heck out of the whole lower front side, maybe in prep for the weekend. Coverage in terms of footage was definitely way behind what I remember from this time of year in years past...nothing new there. Did not essay upper gates being solo but hit elevator gate/lower Snake Dance area on a few runs; load of pushable snow. Feeling a bit under the weather I headed to Central. What a difference the Silver Fir quad makes: that area was a crowded with families and boarders, with all the slopes skied out. The early sun and sliders had converted the NE facing slopes to lumpy potatos with bug gouges; still movable but not too soft. The runs served by triple 60 were actually the best. Coverage on Rip Cord for example was perfectly adequate. Left around 1 PM to the office.

though it got crowded early -- lot 4 was almost full at 10 past 9 -- it was a very good day up there. Sunshine and deep snow that was light enough for face shots. It stayed fun all day even when it had been skied on (as opposed to skied out).

There were about a half dozen tracks coming down Mt. Snoqualmie to the valley. they were there at 9am so either somebody go it at the crack of dawn or they were from later in the day yesterday.

Upper Traverse was open at 8:50 am believe it or not. Fresh lines were had in the backcountry all day!

There were still plenty of goods in Stokes bowl and Great Scott bowl on my "last chair" run. From two to four the line on chair two was under five minutes.

Saw over a dozen tracks weaving down chair peak basin.